39 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I respect that you admit it is faith. We have no disagreement there. But common sense is subjective. What seems obvious to you may not seem obvious to someone else.

Nobody can prove or disprove a creator. But we can say there is no proof for a specific creator with specific intentions.

I have to stop you on one point. The Bible does refer to other gods, yet says there is only one true God. If there were more than one creator, why couldn’t creation and evolution be the work of more than one?

And you still haven’t answered my question. It is not about whether there is a creator. It is about your specific belief in that God, under those specific terms and with that level of conviction.

Last but not least: Your claim that all believers feel much the same falls under one of the flaws of the human mind, in my opinion. Not only is it a belief, but it is also supported by psychology and neuroscience.

I believe in one God, and have all along. Nothing has changed my thinking and actually with all the bad things that go on in the world, see this world as slowly coming to an end, and soon. Again, if there were more than one God, or he had help, this would surely have been written about over time. I don't know exactly how all believers believe, but that they do believe in the one God, for whatever reasons brought them to their personal beliefs. None of us knows all of why this world happened, only that we'll all know when we die.

12 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I believe in one God, and have all along. Nothing has changed my thinking and actually with all the bad things that go on in the world, see this world as slowly coming to an end, and soon. Again, if there were more than one God, or he had help, this would surely have been written about over time. I don't know exactly how all believers believe, but that they do believe in the one God, for whatever reasons brought them to their personal beliefs. None of us knows all of why this world happened, only that we'll all know when we die.

Again, you shift to explaining your personal belief instead of answering the point I raised. That is your choice, but it still does not explain why you believe there can only be one God.

Many religions describe more than one god, and the Hebrew Bible also contains traces of older beliefs involving other gods and divine beings. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all come from the same Abrahamic root and later centred their faith on one God, even though they developed different understandings of him.

3 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Again, you shift to explaining your personal belief instead of answering the point I raised. That is your choice, but it still does not explain why you believe there can only be one God.

Many religions describe more than one god, and the Hebrew Bible also contains traces of older beliefs involving other gods and divine beings. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all come from the same Abrahamic root and later centred their faith on one God, even though they developed different understandings of him.

I've always been a Christian, although Catholic learned for awhile. Yes, there are many religions, all man made, which say there are many gods. If there were more than one God, we would again see some sort of competition I would think. All trying to outdo the others. God's first commandment warns against this type of thinking, as he's a jealous God, and only wants what's best for us. Not to fall into a trap praying to idols.

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

I've always been a Christian, although Catholic learned for awhile. Yes, there are many religions, all man made, which say there are many gods. If there were more than one God, we would again see some sort of competition I would think. All trying to outdo the others. God's first commandment warns against this type of thinking, as he's a jealous God, and only wants what's best for us. Not to fall into a trap praying to idols.

Believing that God will fix everything is not very different from believing that one politician will fix all your problems. In both cases, people can hand over responsibility, ignore contradictions, and keep believing because they want the answer to be true. Faith may give comfort, but comfort is not proof.

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Believing that God will fix everything is not very different from believing that one politician will fix all your problems. In both cases, people can hand over responsibility, ignore contradictions, and keep believing because they want the answer to be true. Faith may give comfort, but comfort is not proof.

God isn't in the same category of lying, promising everything politicians.

People can choose to believe or not, as he gave us free will, which shows him our faith. Believers would love to see proof, as it would ease their minds. We all have some doubts but won't stray from our belief. Faith relies on conviction instead of proof.

It's human nature to question things. Remember the saying. Believe nothing you hear and half of what you see.

If God can make the universe from his mind, think of more he could accomplish.

This reminds me of the Ten Commandments movie, and a good final words from Ramses........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdzFUQ3Tt1k&t=1s.

15 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

God isn't in the same category of lying, promising everything politicians.

People can choose to believe or not, as he gave us free will, which shows him our faith. Believers would love to see proof, as it would ease their minds. We all have some doubts but won't stray from our belief. Faith relies on conviction instead of proof.

It's human nature to question things. Remember the saying. Believe nothing you hear and half of what you see.

If God can make the universe from his mind, think of more he could accomplish.

We know that tribal thinking and confirmation bias shape politics, ideology and religion. Tribal thinking is also important for progress, especially in tough times, and even in good times. When people have too many options, they are all over the place, and that can cost society a lot. But being a free man, with a free mind, is sometimes better than being a slave to thoughts that are not even natural for humans. I give you that, but it does not serve the intellect, to be honest.

3 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

This is the video of the monk...............https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7cR_v5u59M&t=1s

Yeah, you're living in a Buddhist country and claiming Buddha is in Hell.

12 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, you're living in a Buddhist country and claiming Buddha is in Hell.

It's not my story. I don't judge anyone. That's God's deal.

In closing, I think we all can agree on 2 things:

a) Death is unpopular. To think that our short time on earth will end up in "nothingness" is hard to accept for us earthlings.

b) Remedy: Invent a religin that promesses "afterlife". The ultimate comfort, something to look foreward to. Giving life "sense".

- What are the most "successful" religions? = The ones that promess "afterlife". Paradise if possible. Religions, not equipped with this promess are far less popular, if not to say "negligeable".

To me, the greatest PR concept ever dreamed up by human brains. Dwarfing all PR concepts of modern day "marketing divisions" of the largest companies of the world.

= Death stinks. So, let's invent religions.

10 hours ago, swissie said:

In closing, I think we all can agree on 2 things:

Are you feeling confident that you will get the last word?

20 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

It's not my story. I don't judge anyone. That's God's deal.

That life has a beginning and a final end makes it more precious. Belief in an afterlife can become a distraction from the life we have, right here and now.

39 minutes ago, Hummin said:

That life has a beginning and a final end makes it more precious. Belief in an afterlife can become a distraction from the life we have, right here and now.

What are you doing now?

14 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

What are you doing now?

Just had my morning stretches, checked the news, and now I’m having a coffee before I shower and shave. Later I’ll pick up a car, have lunch, visit my mom, then go for a two hour walk to pick berries and nuts. Dinner, watch a movie, and sleep. Simple good life.

Something like this, which I did yesterday, and the days before more or less. Simple life literally. And you?

17 hours ago, Hummin said:

Simple good life.

Yeah, maybe you have a comfortable life, but many people have hard miserable or tragic lives.

So your narrow-minded theory doesn't really take these people into consideration.

If a hard miserable life is all you got, is that fair? Or what is it?

You even posted photos of what you had for lunch. I'm impressed.

Edited July 23Jul 23 by save the frogs

5 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, maybe you have a comfortable life, but many people have hard miserable lives.

So your narrow-minded theory doesn't really take these people into consideration.

If a hard miserable life is all you got, is that fair? Or what is it?

Your life is easy. You just sit in Patts all day thinking about stuff.

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

Your life is easy. You just sit in Patts all day thinking about stuff.

It's not about me. It's a philosophical discussion.

Just posting a picture of what you had for lunch and bragging your life is easy doesn't explain how the universe works.

5 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

It's not about me. It's a philosophical discussion.

Just posting a picture of what you had for lunch and bragging your life is easy doesn't explain how the universe works.

Peter Crone says suffering is based on self identity and trying to live up to an ideal version of yourself which is not realistic. He says you should love yourself.

Alan Watts says you can't love yourself cause that is like kissing your own lips. You come from the universe and there is no self. Let go of self.

Dale Carnegie argued that human suffering usually comes from carrying three days of pain at once: yesterday’s regrets, today’s problems, and tomorrow’s potential disasters.

• The Solution: Shut off the past and the future. Live exclusively in "day-tight compartments". Handle only the 24 hours in front of you.

19 hours ago, Hummin said:

That life has a beginning and a final end makes it more precious. Belief in an afterlife can become a distraction from the life we have, right here and now.

As believers we see this temporary life as just that. A test for the afterlife. If we dismiss it, we're dismissing God's main plans. For us to believe so we can make it to heaven.

85 years or so doesn't compare to forever so that makes this not near as important as planing for our futures, as we also do here if we're smart.

Believing doesn't have to be a distraction as millions of followers have fruitful lives with God as an addition to them. God doesn't want us as slaves as he gave us free will to make choices. Believers choose God.

52 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, maybe you have a comfortable life, but many people have hard miserable or tragic lives.

So your narrow-minded theory doesn't really take these people into consideration.

If a hard miserable life is all you got, is that fair? Or what is it?

You even posted photos of what you had for lunch. I'm impressed.

Having a hard life is even more reason to believe there is something better after this one. easier said than done but the rewards might be great. The meek shall inherit the earth.

29 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

As believers we see this temporary life as just that. A test for the afterlife. If we dismiss it, we're dismissing God's main plans. For us to believe so we can make it to heaven.

85 years or so doesn't compare to forever so that makes this not near as important as planing for our futures, as we also do here if we're smart.

Believing doesn't have to be a distraction as millions of followers have fruitful lives with God as an addition to them. God doesn't want us as slaves as he gave us free will to make choices. Believers choose God.

If the afterlife is better why have normal life?

4 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, maybe you have a comfortable life, but many people have hard miserable or tragic lives.

So your narrow-minded theory doesn't really take these people into consideration.

If a hard miserable life is all you got, is that fair? Or what is it?

You even posted photos of what you had for lunch. I'm impressed.

Where you see negativity, I maybe see different things and different solutions. That doesn’t mean my life doesn’t come with the same struggles, thoughts, and reactions as anyone else’s. I have understood one simple thing. Life happens as we go, and there are only a few things worth working for. What those things are is up to you to figure out. I can only show what makes me happy. If you see that as a provocation or bragging, then maybe start with the simple things that color your mind and give you the contrast you need in your life.

My major problem with the afterlife is which me will I be; the 10-year-old me, the 20-year-old me, or the 80+ me. I don't discount the possibility of a God. The Universe is vast; anything is possible.

6 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Having a hard life is even more reason to believe there is something better after this one. easier said than done but the rewards might be great. The meek shall inherit the earth.

Religion& Belief

I believe quitting the forum would be the best solution for most 😉 and starting to focus on real life issues instead.

8 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I believe quitting the forum would be the best solution for most 😉 and starting to focus on real life issues instead.

Happiness is hormones and riding the waves of life.

22 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Happiness is hormones and riding the waves of life.

And how to trigger happy hormones and change the waves of life?

One thing that never had made any man happy, is to sit and digest headlines of conspiracy theories all day long!

44 minutes ago, Hummin said:

And how to trigger happy hormones and change the waves of life?

One thing that never had made any man happy, is to sit and digest headlines of conspiracy theories all day long!

I tell these guys to go do things but they don't want to.

Life was not meant to be a spectator sport but most sit in the stands criticising the quarterback.

On 7/18/2026 at 1:45 AM, swissie said:

I don't believe that Alberts phiysycs apply to humans.

I don't believe that Alberts phisycs can be applied to humans. It's biology. We are merely a "biological mass". Once death, we simly "decompose" like any other dead biological mass.

The "soul"? The soul is located in our brain. It decomposes like the rest of us. Going nowhere.

I won’t undermine your beliefs, but it is a known fact that the human body maintains enough biochemical electrical charge to power a small light bulb. So, yes, Albert’s hypothesis does pertain to we humans!

4 hours ago, RMK54 said:

I won’t undermine your beliefs, but it is a known fact that the human body maintains enough biochemical electrical charge to power a small light bulb. So, yes, Albert’s hypothesis does pertain to we humans!

Religion& Belief

Einstein’s physics applies to the matter and energy in our bodies, but it provides no evidence that consciousness or a soul survives death.

Edit note: The body has electrical activity, but it does not store electrical charge. Most of the body’s energy is released as heat.

Edited July 24Jul 24 by Hummin